By Val Willingham
CNN Medical producer

As a medical producer I am often asked where I get my story ideas. Most of them come from contacts I know. Other times I read about certain events or people I think would make interesting TV stories. I've even pulled a couple of ideas off my gym's bulletin board. Who knew that women's rugby was becoming popular? If you keep your eyes and ears open, "good" story ideas always seem to materialize.

That's how I met Ronn Wade. A few years ago, when I was suffering from insomnia, I flipped on the National Geographic channel, only to catch a special on mummies. Most of it was shot in Cairo, some in Peru and other exotic locales. Then the story switched to Baltimore. The director of the anatomical services division of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Ronn Wade, along with Bob Brier, a professor of philosophy and Egyptology at Long Island University took a donor cadaver and decided to mummify it using the same techniques as the Egyptians. Removing the organs one by one and placing them in canopic jars, extracting the brain with a hooked instrument, wrapping the body in bandages treated with special oils, Wade and Brier took weeks to preserve the body. I was fascinated. I knew I had to interview Ronn Wade.

Since that time I have worked with Ronn twice. Although he deplores the title, most people refer to him as the “Mummy Man”. He not only was the co-creator of the modern mummy, now on display at the San Diego Museum of Man, he also oversees a collection of 200, 18th century medical mummies called the Burns Collection. His department is also responsible for providing donor cadavers for local hospitals and medical schools. But what's most intriguing about Ronn's research is his ongoing effort to find a better way to preserve bodies with a treatment called plastination. By immersing donor cadavers in a plastic-like substance, made up of polymers, Ronn can actually take the organs, skin, anything found in the human anatomy and cut it into sections, much like slices from an MRI, but you can hold them in your hands. By looking at these slices, doctors and medical students are able to learn how diseases develop, why they develop, and in many cases, how they can be treated.

With today's fascination with the Twilight saga, displays like "Body: The Exhibition”, and television shows such as True Blood, Ronn Wade could probably do his own reality show. But death is more than gore and corpses to him. To him it's a teaching tool and a way to learn more about life.

Why do you think we are fascinated with death? We'd like to hear your thoughts.

Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.

By Val Willingham
CNN Medical Producer

I don't smoke. But I have a good friend who does. For years, she's been trying to quit, using patches, gum, group therapy, even exercise programs designed to help you "lose your cravings." She's gone cold turkey, smoked fake cigarettes and many times begged buddies to take her cigarettes and throw them in the trash if they saw packs in her home or car. And although she's had a few smoke-free periods in her life, she's never really quit the habit. She says it's just too hard.

Of course she's not alone. Drug experts say nicotine is more difficult to kick than heroin. Of the 44 million people in the U.S. who smoke, the American Cancer Society says, 70 percent of those smokers confess they want to quit and about 40 percent do quit each year. Yet only 4 percent to 7 percent actually give up smoking, without help, for good.

But now there may be hope. The National Institute on Drug Abuse, a division of the National Institutes of Health, has awarded Nabi Biopharmaceuticals a $10 million grant to take its anti-nicotine vaccine into phase 3 human research trials over the next few months. Called the NicVAX, the vaccine is designed to stimulate the immune system to generate antibodies that would latch on to nicotine in a smoker's body and actually prevent nicotine from ever entering the brain.

When a smoker inhales a cigarette, nicotine is absorbed through the lung tissue, into the bloodstream and carried through the body. Because nicotine is a small molecule, it easily crosses the blood brain barrier into the brain. The nicotine then binds to receptors in the brain, which release dopamine, which is a stimulant that gives the smoker a pleasurable sensation, known as a "smoker's high."

This process occurs very rapidly in the body, less than one minute after tobacco smoke is inhaled, so the nicotine fix is quick. That's what causes the addiction.

The NicVAX vaccine creates antibodies that bind to nicotine in the bloodstream, blocking it from crossing into the brain, through the brain-blood barrier. That's because these nicotine-specific antibodies are large molecules and are too big to cross into the brain. So the bound nicotine is trapped in the blood and can't reach the receptors that trigger that release of dopamine, which is what causes the pleasure response.

It's believed that the addiction of the smoker to nicotine will gradually diminish because as the antibodies created by NicVAX continue to bind the nicotine, the amount of nicotine reaching the brain will gradually decrease.

According to Nabi, these phase 3 trials could begin by the end of the year. The companys says that so far, the results have been promising with few side effects. In the phase 2 trials reports, Nabi says "a statistically significant number of participants treated with the NicVAX optimal dose were able to quit smoking and remain abstinent over the long term at rate of nearly three times that of those receiving the placebo. In addition, those participants that continued to smoke and but showed a high antibody response to NicVAX significantly reduced the number of cigarettes smoked over the full 12-month period from a baseline of 20 cigarettes per day to 10 cigarettes per day."

The vaccine will be tested over a six-month period with participants receiving a vaccine every four weeks. .The antibodies should remain in the body for a long period of time. Just how long, researchers don't know yet. Trial sites will be located across the country. You can check on clinicaltrials.gov if you're interested in becoming a participant.

I am sure my friend will be waiting to sign up.

But here's the question. Would you be willing to take a vaccine periodically to help you quit the habit? Or do you have a method that has helped you to remain smoke free? We'd like to hear.

Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.

By Val Willingham
CNN Medical Producer

The death of actress Natasha Richardson is tragic. A beautiful, vital 45-year-old goes for a ski lesson and falls. She gets up, declines medical care and goes back to her hotel. From there, the story takes a terrible turn. She becomes ill, and is transported to one hospital, then another and then finally to a third hospital near her home, where she dies two days later from brain injuries caused by an epidural hematoma. Her family, friends and fans are shocked. How can something as innocent as a ski fall  kill you? Because, neurologists say, the brain, although complex, is a delicate organ. It's very vulnerable and it needs to be taken seriously. And even a bump on the head can take its toll. Unfortunately, I know this all too well.

Thirteen years ago, my husband, daughter and I were in a terrible car accident on the Florida Turnpike. On our way to Orlando, our vehicle was hit by a driver who had fallen asleep at the wheel. Although we all had our seat belts on, our car swerved and hit a bridge embankment. My husband's head went out the side window, hitting the windshield and the concrete. When EMS workers got to us, it looked as if a battle had taken place: burning cars, debris. And because my husband had a major slice to his head, blood was everywhere. I was not hurt, and my daughter had a minor cut from flying glass. They loaded us into ambulances and took us to two different hospitals, my husband headed for the local trauma unit. He stayed two days in the hospital. They stitched up his forehead and sent him home, mentioning that he may want to see his doctor once he got back to Washington, D.C. And although the whole thing was terribly traumatic, we left Florida three days later, with my husband behind the wheel of a rental car.

Because he felt fine and there seemed to be no urgency to his injuries, my husband went back to work and made an appointment with his doctor to have a CT scan two months later. When he got off the table, the radiologist asked him to sit down and immediately called a neurologist. As the doctor viewed the images, his face turned pale and he asked my husband how long had it been since he was in the accident. My hubby shrugged and said, "A couple of months." The physician then told him not to move - he was going to schedule surgery immediately. It seemed my husband had developed a subdural hematoma that covered his entire brain. According to MayoClinic.com it's usually formed from head trauma that causes the brain to be shaken severely. Many children who suffer from shaken baby syndrome have these type of injuries. And unlike epidural hematomas, which bleed in the brain fairly quickly, my husband's injury developed slowly, causing a massive bruise to form. One false move could have given him a stroke, or caused permanent brain damage.

Although my husband made it through brain surgery without incident, there is a lesson here. Never take a head injury for granted. When doctors looked at his scans in the ER in Florida, they obviously did not see the bruising that later formed over his brain. Because the brain is loaded with large and small blood vessels, head injuries can cause all sorts of serious problems. Studies have shown that athletes who suffer even minor concussions can develop neurological problems later in life. The brain is nothing to be messed with.

Ironically, March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. And although brain injuries are not as common as, say, broken bones, they do happen and many have serious consequences. They need to be treated immediately. In this story, my husband got treated, before suffering brain damage. He was fortunate. God bless her, but Ms. Richardson was not.

Have you ever faced head trauma? Know someone who has? What happened? We'd like to hear about it.

Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.

By Val Willingham
CNN Medical Producer

If you're like me, going to the movies just isn't the same without a tub of popcorn. Although I don't douse it with butter, I do admit to shaking just a little salt on my bucket of munchies before entering the theater. It's that salty crunchiness that satisfies my movie-loving soul. It just takes the edge off while I moon over Daniel Craig.

The problem is, even that little shake could put me way over the number of milligrams of salt each of us needs every day. According to the American Heart Association, most Americans should limit their sodium intake to no more than 2,400 milligrams or 6 grams a day. That's about one and a half teaspoons a day. ONE AND A HALF TEASPOONS A DAY! Break out your measuring spoons. That's not much, considering most foods we eat, including that popcorn, are loaded with salt.

Although sodium plays an important role in regulating body fluids and blood pressure, most of us consume way more salt than our bodies need. And because of our fast-paced lives, a lot of those quick meals we throw in the microwave are the biggest sodium culprits. Processed foods, for example certain lunch meats and TV dinners, are brimming with salt, some over 1,000 milligrams a meal. That's almost half your salt intake for the day. In fact, many of the frozen diet meals we eat have lots of salt, because, according to health experts such as Jane Delgado from the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, "It's an inexpensive way to add flavor." She says better to season your food with spices, even lemon juice to keep it tasty. And look at nutrition labels

Expecting a baby? Watch your sodium. Most pregnant women should talk to their doctors about their salt intake, especially in the first three months of pregnancy, when the fetus is beginning to develop. Dropping sodium during pregnancy can cause problems for mom and her child, by disrupting the body's fluid balance. Edema, or excess water retention, that occurs during pregnancy is usually not harmful, unless the mother has high blood pressure But it can get out of hand. When I was pregnant with my daughter, I ballooned into a 200-plus pound mass of happy mama. Because of edema I took on a lot of water weight, but my blood pressure remained normal. In my ninth month all I could wear were my husband's flip flops and a huge muumuu. I was miserable. My OB/GYN advised me to limit my salt, because it causes cells to retain water. I tried, but I still grew. Two days after I gave birth to my baby girl, I had dropped 45 pounds. Needless to say, a good 75 percent of that was water weight.

So it's no surprise when it comes to salt, most doctors agree less is better. Although the debate on how much salt is needed continues, health experts agree a little goes a long way. Too much salt has been shown to lead to high blood pressure which can cause heart disease and stroke. For those with hypertension, certain physicians say lowering sodium intake to 1,800 milligrams would probably be healthier.

So the next time you're running to catch a flick and start to reach for the shaker at the concession stand , go easy. Think about how much salt you're consuming.

Do you watch your salt? How do you limit your salt intake?

Editor’s Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.

By Val Willingham
CNN Medical Producer

For four years, I dated a man who beat me. The first time was around Christmas of my freshman year of college. I had known him a couple of months. He was the first guy I had ever had a physical relationship with, and I was madly in love. But he had a dark side, a short fuse, and I was very vocal and told him what I thought. The problem was, instead of arguing with me, he just beat me up.

The episodes continued throughout our relationship. At one point, he actually put me in the hospital with a concussion, my face and body covered with cuts and bruises. My friends begged me to leave him. His fraternity brothers did an intervention of sorts and told me he was a no-good, nasty, SOB. But for some odd reason, which took hours of therapy years later to figure out, I just stayed with him.

It wasn't that I was unpopular or lonely. I had lots of friends, men and women. I was a good student, a leader on campus. I came from a loving home, with a father who never hit my mother, or me. But for years, I had a secret that only the closest of my friends knew about. I was an abused girlfriend.

According to a National Violence Against Women Survey, 22 percent of women are physically assaulted by a partner or date during their lifetime. I was one of them. The question was, why did I stay? The American Psychiatric Association finds that many women remain in abusive relationships for many reasons, lack of finances, poor self-esteem, children and even religious and cultural values. In my case, I felt I had done something wrong and deserved it.

It also might be because I was also raised in a family and at a time, when sex was a little taboo.  It was the ’70s and I was in school on a large rural campus. You just didn't do it unless you were married. So when I had sex at the age of 18 with this young man, I had pretty much made up my mind he was my future husband. So I put up with it. There was a strange bond I had with him, because when he wasn't beating me up, he was very nice to me. He treated me well, sent me flowers, took me places. We laughed, had a great time together. But periodically when we argued, he would just lash out with his fists. It was horrible. But what was even more horrible was that I blamed myself for mouthing off. I thought if only I could keep my opinions to myself, the beatings wouldn't happen anymore. How naive of me. How foolish.

The ironic part of this story is he ended our relationship because I graduated from college and he didn't. He threw me out. I guess he was jealous. He was definitely a jerk.

Six months after we broke up, I was coming home to my little apartment, carrying decorations for my first Christmas tree as a working woman, and I found him sitting on my doorstep. I have no idea how he found me. He asked to take me to dinner so we could talk. I reluctantly went. While chatting over the meal, he said he wanted to come back and that he "didn't realize how good he had it." I quickly answered back, "I didn't know how bad I had it, but now I do!" For once he didn't whack me. He got up and left me at the restaurant, never to see me again. I had to take a cab home. As I sat in the back seat I felt a sense of relief but also shame that I had let it go on so long. But I was no longer a victim: I was free. As I look back on it now, It was the best cab ride I ever took.

Are you the victim of domestic abuse? Do you know someone who is? How did you help? We want to know.

Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.

By Val Willingham
CNN Medical Producer

My dog, Nipsey, has ESP. Every day when I get home from work, he can tell what kind of mood I am in. If I'm tired or stressed he cuddles up and licks my face. Come home feelin' good? He's feisty and ready to play. There's not one day my dog doesn't bring me peace of mind. I love seeing my husband when he picks me up from the Metro station, but there's something about my Jack Russell that calms my soul when I walk through the door.

So when I interviewed Dr. Edward Creagan, an oncologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and told him about my pooch, he wasn't surprised. Creagan actually specializes in hospice care and knows the power of a pet. In many cases, he has taken out his prescription pad and written these words: "One dog, one cat, infinite refills." His patients say their pets help them cope with serious illnesses. That's why Creagan uses dogs in many of his therapy sessions.

Studies have shown pets are good for us. They get us out, keep us active and give us responsibility. Pets are part of our family. More people in the neighborhood know Nipsey than me. When I talk to my friends, I always ask about their pets. Ann has Buddy and Cleo; Mary her Lily; Evy loves Chip, and Nancy has two cats named Norman and Maui. They just sort of go hand and paw.

I asked Creagan if a hamster or a snake can have the same kind of effect as a dog or a cat. Creagan believes any pet, if you love that animal, can give you joy. He calls it unconditional love. And that love can keep us healthy.

Researchers at SUNY-Buffalo followed stockbrokers already taking medication for hypertension and noted that those who got a pet reduced by half the increase in their blood pressure numbers brought on my stress. Seems people who have pets have a decrease in a stress hormone called cortisol. So when you pet or play with your pet, the biological change drops your stress level and your blood pressure numbers go down.

And as we get older, pets can help us cope with illnesses. Scientists have found that older patients who have pets are less likely to be depressed and are more heart healthy. Recent studies showed those who were hospitalized with heart failure had better cardiac function when a dog visited them in the hospital. Anxiety levels dropped more if a pet was present than if a human volunteer came to visit.

And don't forget exercise. My friend Jen owns a 130-pound Boxer-Rottweiler-Great Dane-German Shepherd mix named Roscoe. She got him as a guard dog from a local shelter, but let's face it, Roscoe is her lovable treadmill. She is always active, cause Roscoe has to be walked.

As for Nipsey, I can't think of a day without him. I am blessed to have a wonderful family and people who love me, but there are days that only my dog knows what I am going through. His devotion is priceless.

What do you think? Do you have a pet? How do they help you cope? We'd like to hear about your animal.

Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.

By Val Willingham
CNN Medical Producer

They have come from all over the country: San Francisco, Charlotte, Hartford, Atlanta, Grand Rapids. Old and young, black and white, Asian, and Hispanic. They have traveled in wheelchairs and by skateboards. A few arrive in limos, thousands have taken the subway. Many have just walked. But their purpose is the same. They are in the nation's capital to witness history; to be able - years from now, when asked, "Where were you when he took office? What were you doing?" - to respond, “I was there."

As a long time Washingtonian, I am experienced at riding the Metro (subway) system. So when they warned that millions were expected to attend the Inauguration of Barack Obama, I knew it was going to be tough getting into work. Arriving this morning at 6:30 a.m. at my local station I found the crowds to be heavy, but light-hearted. It may have been cold, but the feeling was warm. People with Obama buttons, hats, and banners jammed the Metro platforms. All were smiling, none minded that there was standing room only on the train. Once in transit they began to sing, to laugh, and to talk to strangers. It was a feeling of camaraderie, of pure joy that I have never experienced on our subway system. And the hope and anticipation was contagious.

As we enter into a new age of American politics - as we watch the first black American become the 44th President of The United States - it is time to take stock of our love for our country and our love for one another. We are one nation of good people from all nationalities, who care about the state of our union. It is time we join hands and support our new administration - we all MUST, be we Republicans or Democrats, Independents or those just uninterested - to take care of one another and make this country strong. These are tough times. Our hearts are stressed, our minds are clouded. If we have hope, all things are possible. Positive thinking can make all the difference, both physically and mentally. Positive thinking helps with stress management and can even improve our health. Positive thinking reflects our outlook on life, our attitude towards ourselves and others. So instead of complaining, it's time to do something for one another. We still have a long way to go to get the U.S. back on track, but this is the perfect time to start.

What do you think?

Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.

By Val Willingham
CNN Medical Producer

For the past few years, I haven't really had good night's sleep. I've tried sleep masks, ear plugs, even evicting our Jack Russell terrier from the bed. I've taken mild sedatives, or a shot of Patron in the evening to make me sleepy but none of these seem to work. I can go to sleep at 1:45 a.m. and wake up at 2 a.m. wide awake. Sometimes I toss and turn; other times I get out of bed, walk around, read a book or fiddle with the Internet, until I get tired and then I go back to sleep. Doctors will tell you I have a classic case of insomnia. It could be because of my age, or maybe my weight. Some sleep experts say I might have an active brain, that doesn't need a lot of sleep. The problem is, my body does.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, many women in their late 30s or 40s are experiencing the beginning of menopause, better known as perimenopause. And during this time, sleep can be affected by many things, such as hormonal and lifestyle changes. During perimenopause and after menopause a woman's ovaries gradually decrease production of estrogen and progesterone, a sleep-promoting hormone. The shifting of these hormones many times contributes to the inability to fall asleep. Add hot flashes, slower metabolism and stress and it's no wonder older women can't get enough shuteye.

Sleep experts warn that getting into a pattern of no sleep or interrupted sleep is not good. Recent studies have found that a lack of sleep can lead to poor judgment, fatigue-related accidents and weight gain.

So what to do? Here's what the experts suggest:
Try to be consistent with your wake-up times and when you go to bed. Build a tight sleep structure you can live with every day.  Make your room dark and quiet.  Too much light can disrupt the secretion of melatonin, which can upset a sleeping individual's body clock. Keep it cool. The ideal temperature for comfortable sleep is around 63 F. Also, skip the alcohol and food a couple of hours before you go to bed. Alcohol may help you fall asleep quicker, but once it metabolizes in the body, it can wake you up in the middle of the night.  And if you exercise, do it in the morning. Most people become alert after an intense workout and may have a harder time falling asleep, so try to exercise at least three hours before you hit the sack.

If things don't improve, see your doctor. Poor sleep habits can lead to other medical issues, so it's best to get it taken care of before it becomes a bigger problem.

Do you have a tough time sleeping? What's it like and what do you do to make it through the night? We'd like to hear about it.

Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.

By Val Willingham
CNN Medical Producer

I can't handle rude people. You know the ones I'm talking about: the pushy pedestrians who shove you as they pass you on the escalator, the speed demons who cut you off in traffic, the shoppers who try to jump in front of you in line. They never say "excuse me",  and they don't wait their turn.  No one matters but them. They care less about anyone else.

Yet you'd figure during the holidays, when COMFORT and JOY are the buzz words of the day, and "Peace on Earth, good will to men"  is echoing in every grocery store, these lads and ladies of the long faces and bad attitudes would cheer up a little bit.  Hardly. In fact, during stressful times of the season, these "Nasties" seem to thrive and what's worse, they can turn unsuspecting folks into "Nasties" as well.

That's because, it seems being inconsiderate and rude to people has a much bigger impact than being nice. A recent study, conducted at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, found feeling slighted can have a bigger impact on how a person treats another, than being the recipient of someone's generosity.

Working with college students who were tasked with exchanging money in an orchestrated test of taking and sharing, researchers found the young people were willing to share at beginning of the study. But when they felt they were being taken advantage of, or that their fellow students were cheating them, they became more aggressive and greedier, rather than stepping back and appreciating what they were given.

Psychologists say this is not unusual. The meaner deed has the greater impact. Give something to someone and they may appreciate it. Take it away and they'll fight you or at least object strongly.

One incident I witnessed a few years ago sprang to mind when I read this study. Picture a crowded shopping mall parking lot, two days before Christmas. The place is packed, and a young mother is waiting patiently for a soon-to-be open slot. It's obvious the parking spot is her "found treasure" and the rest of the drivers, including myself, are steering around her. Once the spot is vacated she begins to pull in, when POW, a Mini Cooper slips into the space. Without warning, the mild mannered mom with her child sleeping in the back seat, flies into a horrible rage. She jumps out of the vehicle and runs up to the driver of the Mini Cooper, who could care less that he has taken her parking spot. He begins to walk away. She attacks him, not physically, but verbally with a few single digits for good measure. And the rude gent decides he's going to one digit her one better and they proceed to scream at each other, till they are hoarse. Suddenly the woman's baby begins to cry from the idling car. She immediately runs back to her little one to comfort him and begins to cry herself in the front seat, with her car still in the parking lot aisle. All over a parking spot. In the meantime, Mini Cooper Meanie is in the mall. It was spectacle I will not soon forget. And it impacted not only her but the rest of us.

So what does this say to us? People should be good to one another. It's really that simple. All this anger and hostility not only leads to unhappy people, but can cause anxiety, which raises our blood pressure, and puts stress on our hearts. Maybe it's time we start practicing patience and understanding, instead of jumping in front of others and not caring how others feel.

Peace on Earth, good will toward people. What do you think?

Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.

By Val Willingham
CNN Medical Producer

Every day I wake up and thank God for another day. It's not a big ceremony. It's just something I do to calm my soul. I am a blessed person and I feel it's important to acknowledge that fact.

When I was a little girl, my parents made sure I always said "Thank you” for the things I was given. I never took anything for granted. A kind word, a small token, I was always appreciative. Even as an adult I keep "Thank you" notes in my desk, ready to send to those who have looked out for me, or been there when I needed them most.

Doctors say giving thanks, taking the time to notice positive things in your life is not only good for your psyche but it's good for your body. University of California at Davis researchers found that practicing gratitude can lower your blood pressure and make you feel less hostile. Grateful people are less angry, less negative and usually look for the cup half full. Studies by Cornell University researchers have shown that those who are thankful appear to have lower risks of developing phobias, alcoholism, even depression. They even have stronger immune systems.

And while Thanksgiving is a perfect time to stop and give thanks for things you have, psychologists say it shouldn't be the only time of year you do it. Being thankful, I mean REALLY THANKFUL, should happen every day. I know in these tough times of foreclosures, unemployment and a bear market, many people think they don't have much to be thankful for. But, as my grandmother used to say, "if you've got your health and are surrounded by the people you love, then you are fortunate." I am a very fortunate person.

While Thanksgiving is a U.S. holiday, ALL of us can make a resolution to wake up and express appreciation for the things we feel grateful for. Take a moment each day to thank a co-worker, your spouse, your child, a friend, the guy who holds the door open for you, or the waitress who brings you coffee with a smile, and see if you don't feel a little better after doing it.

What are you thankful for? How do you express it? What does Thanksgiving mean to you? Please let us know.

Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.